USS Marblehead

By Jose Poncet

Click here
for information on cutting the cables at CienfuegosClick Here to read
letters written by Albert Lynn of the MARBLEHEAD

GENERAL:

MONTGOMERY (C- 9), DETROIT (C-10) and MARBLEHEAD
(C-11) were protected cruisers, the smallest of that type in the 1898 U.S.
Navy. All three were completed in 1894. During the Spanish-American War,
they were actively employed in the Cuban and Caribbean areas. DETROIT
was disposed of in 1910, but the other two continued in service through
the First World War.

BACKGROUND:

The MARBLEHEAD, a protected cruiser, was laid down in October 1890 by
City Point Works, Boston, Massachusetts; launched 11 August 1892; sponsored
by Mrs. C. F. Allen and commissioned 2 April 1894, Commander Charles O'Neil
in command.

This cruiser was soon integrated in the North Atlantic Squadron.
In June 1894, she carried out military operations in Nicaragua since the
political instability in that country had provoked a risky situation for
lives and interests of US citizens residing in there country. At the beginning
of September, she left Nicaraguan waters and cruised the Caribbean, showing
the flag, until the 6th of December, the date of her arrival in Hampton
Roads, Virginia. During 1895 and 1897 MARBLEHEAD performed goodwill missions
in Europe, visiting several seaports of the Atlantic and Mediterranean
coasts, and cruised the east coast and the Caribbean in training.

MARBLEHEAD served on the North Atlantic Squadron and, when Rear
Admiral Sampson was ordered to blockade the Cuban coast from Cardenas
to Bahia Honda, she was sent to the NE of the island and was put in charge
of carrying out attacking the Spanish boats.

Once the Cuban North coast was controlled by the US Navy, (25 April
1898), Admiral Sampson decided to expand the
blockade to the island’s South coast. Consequently, the cruiser MARBLEHEAD,
the gunboat NASHVILLE and the armed yatch EAGLE sailed for Cienfuegos,
(480 miles from Havana). MARBLEHEAD and EAGLE (April 26, early morning)
went aground at the Arrecifes Colorados, between Bahia Honda and Cabo San
Antonio (NW end of the island) and it took 12 hours to free themselves.
After this, these ships continued their route to Cienfuegos but they were
not in time to intercept the Spanish transport MONTSERRAT, (this vessel
was carrying 800 Spanish soldiers).

However, on 29 April 1898, MARBLEHEAD, NASHVILLE and EAGLE intercepted
the Spanish supply ship ARGONAUTA, on route from Batabano to Cienfuegos
and Santiago. This boat was transporting supplies, rifles and ammunitions,
as well as some Army officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers who
were taken prisoners. The Spanish gunboats DIEGO
VELAZQUEZ, SATELITE,
LINCE
and GAVIOTA tried to avoid
this capture and attacked EAGLE but MARBLEHEAD and NASHVILLE repelled them.
The three American ships shelled also enemy fortifications on the same
day. MARBLEHEAD cut the cables off Cienfuegos
on the 11th of May. As the result of this dangerous action, in which crewmen
in open boats worked within a few hundred feet of the Spanish rifle pit,
the greatest number of Medals of Honor were issued for one action in the
Spanish American War. After this action, MARBLEHEAD patrolled off Santiago
de Cuba until the beginning of June.

Because the blockade of Santiago was supposed to last a long period
of time, the US Navy needed an anchoring place where its warships could
be supplied with coal, ammunition, etc. and also carry out emergency repairs.
The best place for this anchorage was Guantanamo Bay. This bay had been
protected with mines by the Spanish gunboat SANDOVAL
and another small gunboat. On 7 June 1898, accompanied by the schooner-rigged
cruiser YANKEE, and the ST.
LOUIS, MARBLEHEAD arrived and fought SANDOVAL
at the distance of 3,000 meters. The Spanish gunboat could not prevent
the American vessels from sweeping the mines or cutting the submarine telegraph
cables. That day MARBLEHEAD captured the lower bay of Guantanamo as a base
for the fleet.

On the 10th of June MARBLEHEAD supported the landing of a battalion
of Marines there intended for occupying the rest of Guantanamo Bay. The
American troops were attacked by SANDOVAL
and a small group of Spanish soldiers. Six days later, the USS MARBLEHEAD
and USS TEXAS, that had joined her, bombarded the
fort on Cayo del Toro in Guantanamo Bay, and reduced the fort to impotency
15 minutes later.

At the end, on 25 June, SANDOVAL’s
Commander, being cornered, scuttled his ship. His heroic actions were useless
since all the submarine mines not found by ST. LOUIS
failed, even when their cables were caught by the propellers of MARBLEHEAD
and TEXAS.

MARBLEHEAD remained in Cuban waters until the beginning of September
and, after several non-relevant cruises to Canada, the Caribbean, South
America and California, she was decommissioned on 30 April 1900. She was
recommissioned again on 10 November 1902 for training and protocol missions,
and in 1916 was turned over to the Oregon Naval Militia as training ship
for that State.

MARBLEHEAD was again placed in full commission 6 April 1917 and was
employed on convoy, patrol, and survey duty during the remainder of World
War I. She was decommissioned 21 August. Reclassified and sold on
5 August 1921.

ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:

The protective deck of this class of cruisers was more a risk than a
protection. Their stability was poor and, because of this, the two initially
installed 152 mm bow gun had to be replaced by only one 127 mm gun and
their apron shields had to be removed. The engine room was very uncomfortable.

Clerk of Joint Committee on Printing, The Abridgement of Message
from the President ofthe United States to the Two Houses
of Congress. (Washington: Government PrintingOffice, 1899)
Vol II, 1094, 1186-1187; Vol. IV 318-319, 373-374

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